The Issue of Self-Objectification

1260 Words3 Pages

Millions of people around the world dread getting out of bed and leaving their homes; this is sometimes due to self-objectification which is initially brought on by the media. Self-objectification is when a person views themselves more as an object, valuing the looks over the uses, rather than as a well-rounded individual (Mikulak). Characteristics of self-objectification are also characteristics of mental illnesses such as body dysmorphic disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety, and many more. People who self-objectify tend to have low self-esteem, therefore have lower motivation to socialize (Sexualization of Girls is Linked to Mental Health Problems). These people spend a huge amount of time getting ready to go places, this includes fixing hair, putting on makeup, showering excessively, picking out outfits, and once all of those things are done they proceed to look in the mirror and criticize everything they see. Most people do not even notice the small flaws that people who self-objectify see as major problems with themselves. People have learned the objectification “trend” to no fault of their own, the media forces it on every person it can reach. Every person in a first world country is influenced by the media nearly every day of their lives. It could be by magazine, television, film, art, literature, the internet or smartphones. Art uses symbols that represent a certain group of people to make the point or to sell the product Literature sometimes uses symbols and other times outright provides judgments about people or things based on the looks. Magazines, television programs, and films all have ads or product placement that leads the viewer or reader to believe that, that is the product they sho... ... middle of paper ... ...helle. Fashion Victim: Our Love-hate Relationship with Dressing, Shopping, and the Cost of Style. New York: Broadway, 2003. Print. Mikulak, Anna. " Self-Objectification May Inhibit Women’s Social Activism." Association for Psychological Science RSS. Association for Psychological Science, 14 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. Miss Representation. Dir. Jennifer Siebel and Kimberlee Acquaro. Perf. Jennifer Siebel. Girls' Club Entertainment, 2011. Netflix. "Sexualization of Girls Is Linked to Common Mental Health Problems in Girls And Women--Eating Disorders, Low Self-Esteem, and Depression; An APA Task Force Report."Http://www.apa.org. American Psychological Association, 19 Feb. 2007. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. Zurbriggen, Eileen. "Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls."Http://www.apa.org. American Psychological Assocation, 2007. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

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